Different irrigation methods offer varying water conservation results

Farmers must not only identify but adopt the most efficient irrigation systems to improve water conservation within agriculture.

Kay Ledbetter, Teas AgriLife | Aug 06, 2014

Low energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation systems may mean as much as $100 per acre in improved irrigation efficiency, according to a new research report from Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation.

Farmers must not only identify but adopt the most efficient irrigation systems to improve water conservation within agriculture, according to the study.

The study determined that producers who were not using LEPA sprinkler systems were leaving as much as $100 per acre behind.

Dr. Nithya Rajan, AgriLife Research agronomist in Vernon, helped complete the study by looking at different types of irrigation systems for their application efficiency. A more efficient irrigation system allows a larger percentage of the applied water to reach the root zone and not be lost to soil evaporation or evaporation from plant surfaces.